The Marrakesh Treaty and Inclusive Library Service Delivery to the Print- Disabled in Nigeria

EDDY-UGORJI, Deborah Chinwe (PhD), ONUORAH, Obianuju .C. (Mrs)

Volume: 09 Issue: 03 2023

Abstract:

People who are print-disabled have the same knowledge requirements as sighted people. They are curious to gain information and news through information sources like newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television digital media etc. Hence libraries have a moral duty to make information sources available to users irrespective of gender, race, age, political affiliation and disabilities. While normal library users have choices of information resources, the print-disabled persons do not. Nigeria joined other 90 countries of the world as a signatory to the Marrakesh Treaty with the main purpose of providing books and information materials in accessible formats for the print-disabled. The Nigerian government has portrayed commitment in terms of ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty on October 4, 2017. The passage of the bill and the amendment of the copyright law is a prodigious development. Once the bill is consented to by the president, it becomes an enforceable law. The provisions of the treaty will be binding on libraries, information centers, government agencies and all authorized entities that service the information needs of the print-disabled. Books will be published in accessible formats for the print-disabled and Nigeria will benefit from cross border library cooperation with participating countries in the Marrakesh Treaty. This in the long run will bring an end to „Book Famine‟. This paper discusses the merits of domestication of the Marrakesh Treaty in Nigeria and the roles of Nigerian libraries in implementing the Treaty.

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